Christmas time is upon us

How quickly the days fly past at this time of year! Here is what we have been doing:

• spending LOTS of time in the garden, weeds wait for no (generic) man,
• installing storage in the new rooms
  
• culling and decluttering old things before packing away in new storage above
• planning new house
• organising our trip overseas
• living the usual life that is with 2 little ones,
  

On the last point, second child is now proudly out of nappies all the time! Yes, Mama spent lots of time diligently looking after Miss Independent so she could be more independent, with all that entails - ample supply of clean underwear, mop at the ready, bashfulness set aside when out and about. And now I can look forward to packing up our well loved stash of cloth nappies, which lasted 2 children but still have life in them yet. Add that to the list of outgrown children's items to be sold on Ebay/Gumtree.

Now it is two weeks till Christmas and there is still so much to do! Our stash of Advent biscuits disappeared the day we celebrated the start of Advent, ok they lasted a week which isn't too bad. But must bake more. And there is the Gingerbread house to make also, this week I fear. My wonderful friend Miss E makes AMAZING Gingerbread houses. She just finished hers so I must post a picture. If only she lived closer to us...... aaaah well. We love you from afar, Erin. XX

Story telling

I was having a fair bit of difficulty writing about our weekend in Hobart, where I also attended a story telling workshop, so I decided to write about each separately. The weekend seemed to be full of its own events, which belong to that weekend but then in a strange, or maybe not so strange way, each time I stepped into the school grounds where the workshop was held I felt as if I was stepping into a different time. Sure, we covered a lot of material but even so, the group dynamic and how it was made alive by our teacher, Iris Curteis, was something quite special and I wasn't alone in noticing this.

But perhaps I should start at the start. People attending came from a variety of backgrounds - drama, teaching, singing and community work, and we all came to it with different goals in mind. Someone was looking to enhance their songwriting skills, a Mother wanted another avenue of instructing her children positively, a few people were looking for their own story.

And why did I go? Well, I suppose one answer would be like this:-
All of us, but children especially, yearn for a good story. I have beautiful memories of listening wide eyed while my grandmother told me stories of her childhood, and how I would ask a thousand questions eager for her to keep going and never stop. Now that my children are like this, I'd like to keep this tradition with them.

Iris began by telling us an enthralling story - yes, really! I'd read the tale of Fitcher's Bird before yet I could not take my eyes off her when she told it. I could hardly breathe! Therefore my first lesson was that a story can truly come alive when told. This is different to reading a story for yourself or even having it read to you. This may seem obvious or nonsensical, depending on your view, but it's an important distinction to make.

At a certain point in the story we each took an egg from a basket and later we found out we had to hold it for the remainder of the workshop. Which lasted until the next day. Should one shower with it? What to do at meal times? How to handle driving? Decisions, decisions. Some of you may be thinking this is way too crazy or stupid to be taking seriously but when you scratch the surface of what had been asked of us.... Wow, a veritable mountain of issues emerged. One can look at the situation a number of ways but what really hit me was imposition. How things can be imposed on us, how to react and what we should do with them.

This really struck a chord for me because motherhood in many ways is about imposition yet at its heart, a desired one. The practical, every day mundaneness of parenting is restrictive and lasts for many years. Mothers will know exactly what I'm talking about. The days of living spontaneously without a care in the world are long gone. But sometimes I think we need to make peace with this and live as best as we can on that day before tackling the following day. What else can we do?

And all this from the first hour of the workshop on day one!

There was such a wealth of knowledge which Iris, and the other attendees, shared that weekend. If you ever get a chance to meet her or hear that she's in your area, please seek her out. She is an amazing woman!

Hobbit Town*

We had such a great long weekend away in Hobart and were fortunate to be staying with wonderful old friends - Thank you, Sue and Hamish. To top it off I was able to attend a storytelling workshop which turned out to be fantastic! More on this later.

Apart from sharing good food and wine and conversation with our most excellent hosts we took the opportunity to go up to the mountain again. I don't know why I'm drawn to it but it does seem magnetic. On this particular day a vicious cold spell had hit Hobart town and shrouded the mountain in a thick white cloud. We rugged up the kids in thermals and winter gear, gloves included this time. The excitement was building! Dan didn't want to come after all so gorgeous 17 year old Georgia came instead. This was far better for the fun and excitement factor but less so for the ego. Aah well, I can't say I was ever young and beautiful so there's nothing really to miss, is there? But I digress.

The road was not closed off this time and as we got nearer the snow fall got heavier. When we reached the highest part we could go (some of the mountain road was closed after all) we found ourselves in a beautiful winter wonderland. A small white field was before us and behind that, a forest of trees thick with snow. This time we came prepared to make a real snowman with a long carrot nose, black button eyes and a hat. He turned out perfect! and huge. He towered over Lorenzo and I just wanted to take lots of great wintry photos with the kids and the snowman and all the lush snow...... except for one small problem.
It had gotten so cold that my camera froze. No clicks, no adjustments, nothing registered. I thought I'd seriously damaged it at first but a few hours later it thawed out fine. Anyway, some crappy mobile pics do exist but the crappy mobile is refusing to give up its bounty.

After the weather cleared two days later, we drove down to Kettering to see our builder again. This time he invited us to one of his work sites on Bruny Island. The kids were so excited to be sailing on a ferry. It was a calm, sunny day and we saw dolphins jumping near the salmon farm. It appears everyone knows a good thing when they see it.

Jon was helpful and friendly as always, and this time we got to meet his family and work team. To catch the return ferry we walked as the crow flies back to the terminal. This path took us over gentle hills and by the beach. We spent plenty of time collecting treasures like driftwood, shells and seed pods from the nearby trees. At one point we noticed a heap of oyster-like shells on the beach before we saw them - whole oysters growing on the rocks a few steps from our feet. Dan broke one open to find the biggest, juiciest and freshest oyster he'd ever seen. His face after eating it said it all. Pure heaven.

The rest of our walk back to the ferry was spent planning the many weekend bike trips we want to make to the Island, camping or just for a day, by the sea where the oysters live. Admittedly they won't be living for long.

* Thank you, Zeer for Hobbit Town.

p.s. Photos to appear when *#$ mobile cooperates.

We have been busy lately because...

It's been a hive of activity the last couple of weeks and the two room extension is almost finished. The only things remaining are doors, power points, light fittings and skirting boards. Dan keeps saying that walking from the old house to the new part of the house is like walking into The Matrix. The younger generation (that's us) smiles knowingly and all nod heads.

We also ripped out 100 cabernet vines which were replaced by baco noir vines. So that was a full weekend of digging holes, carting water and planting. It was hard work but very rewarding. The weather was warm! I even got sunburnt on the only place I forgot to put sunscreen, between shoulder blades - don't you hate that?

Busy week continues as we finish rooms and prepare for a long weekend away in Hobart in the new (to us) car. Can't wait! Finally we have a decent family car which is a real pleasure to drive AND we'll be staying with wonderful old friends. Lovely things to look forward to.

Snow news is good news

My Mum, Lorenzo and I went down to Hobart this week and saw snow on the hilltops, at only 300 metres. We had to stop and take photos, firstly because it had been years since we'd had snow in the winter and secondly, because we didn't know if that would be all for the day. Fortunately it wasn't!



We arrived at Constitution Dock in time for lunch and shared fish and chips at Mures. Lorenzo loves seeing all the ships so Mum took him for a walk around the dock and Salamanca, running errands, while I had a meeting with our architect, Michael. He's now come up with two sets of designs, both innovative yet still practical, but after much umming and aahing we'd like something between the two. So we're still at the drawing board stage, literally.



Afterwards the weather cleared to beautiful sunshine in the city except for the snow cloud which enveloped Mt Wellington. We said, "Let's go there immediately!" and the beauty of Hobart is that in 20 minutes we were there. At first we saw patches of white here and there, then entire rooftops covered, and then there was snow absolutely everywhere. Houses and gardens, roads and trees, it was a perfect winter wonderland scene. It was heartbreakingly beautiful. As if we'd stepped into a chocolate box painting. I could have happily sat there, rugged up outside on a bench just watching and listening. Because the other amazing thing is that snow has a sound. With Winter being an inbreath of the earth, the effect of snow seems to soften certain sounds and amplify others. Before long you are hearing a new soundscape from places you may have thought you knew. It seems esoteric I know, but it was a complete revelation.



Lorenzo was equally spellbound, watching everything with wide eyes until I took him to a fresh pile of snow to make a snowman and throw snowballs down the mountain. Then he couldn't stop laughing and giggling and running around, watching the foot prints he left in the snow, digging into the snowpile even when he complained his hands were cold (yes, I forgot his gloves). And when it started snowing I showed him how we could catch snowflakes on our tongue and taste them. Truly a magical day.

A new love of trees

Slowly, very slowly, the earth lets out a sigh and the seasons shift. We see more flowers popping up each day, the air is starting to smell sweet and fresh and best of all, there is more daylight each day. Mum's cherry trees were full of pale pink fragrant blossoms for a brief week but a day of gusty winds has now left them bare again, save for a beautiful soft pink carpet underneath each tree. Was that enough time for the bees to pollinate? We'll find out if and when cherries start to appear.

I bought my first trees for our future orchard today. Although now I think about it the first trees I bought were the hornbeam trees three years ago for Lorenzo's grove, so this makes it my first fruit trees. Just to explain - after Lorenzo was born I knew I wanted to bury the remaining placenta under a tree in a place he could always return to. A search on Celtic tree astrology revealed his tree to be a hornbeam, Carpinus betulus, so now there is this beautiful tree growing on my parents' property. The remaining four trees are still waiting patiently to be planted as that intended grove while my parents decide what will happen in that part of the garden.

But back to the topic, I asked Mum along because she's the gardener par excellence and I'm a complete novice (read: reformed house plant killer). I wanted to start with an apple, a pear and cherry trees then she chose the varieties. On her advice I also bought a miniature nectarine tree; smaller trees being easier to pick, prune and look after. Even though it's a miniature it's already fruiting. If all goes well we should get at least 20 nectarines from a tree no higher than 50cm. Amazing! Let's see how many we get to eat this summer. For the next year or so they'll be living in pots in Mum's garden until the house is finished and we can start establishing the garden. I can hardly wait.

In the grip of Winter

We're house-sitting again! We're in a beautiful area of meandering hills, tall green forests and lush valleys. From the kitchen window we can see the stream rushing past, full of the rain from the recent soaking to the eastern half of Australia. We haven't replaced the digital camera since our last one died which means I'll have to sneak off with my Dad's next time we visit because I am itching to take photos of this place. It really is beautiful. A little bit like this, which is Tassie not far from here.


Bread News - The sourdough starter is taking longer than expected though living happily in a glass jar in the fridge as part of step 3 of the fermentation process. On the normal bread side of things, I've started baking regularly since it was our turn at our new Steiner Playgroup. They have a winning recipe which is so super easy and delicious, you can make it with the kids around.

4 Simple Bread - easy to make and easy to eat

1. Combine the following in a large bowl: 4 cups plain flour, 4 cups atta or wholemeal flour, 4 teaspoons salt, 4 teaspoons sugar, 4 tablespoons yeast, 4 cups warm water, a glug of olive oil.
2. Knead in a Mixmaster, Kitchen Aid, etc. using a dough hook, or by hand, for a few minutes till smooth and elastic.
   
3. Leave to rise, covered by a tea towel, at room temperature till doubled in size.
   
4. Turn out and knead again by hand for a couple of minutes. Little hands love helping here.
5. Place back in large bowl, covered with plastic wrap to stop it drying out. At this point you have a choice - you can let it rise slowly, in the fridge overnight for baking tomorrow Or at room temperature again and bake today.
6. TO BAKE - turn out and shape into however you like your bread. This quantity can make 2 loaves - one to keep and one to give away to your wonderful neighbours, Hello Rhonda and Graeme * wave* Or you can shape small buns, I've made 20 with this amount.
7. Put into a preheated oven at 190 degrees C for about 40 minutes depending on your oven. They are ready when your kitchen smells warm and yeasty and tapping the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow.

I mention using Atta flour because I've found it vastly superior to wholemeal flour. I asked the guys at the Mill about it and they say it is a whole meal flour in that the whole wheat grain is milled to make it, it is just milled differently to what we're used to with wholemeal flour. A discussion amongst friends revealed that many of us love it and use it instead of what's labelled as 'wholemeal' flour which mainly appears to be plain white flour with bran added in. Not the same thing now, is it?

Can I also mention that I think it's cool that I can go to the Mill to buy flour? Naysayers are welcome to leave comments but I will not be dissuaded.

We may be toasty warm inside, especially after baking and filling the house with warm bread smells, but to go outside on a sunny day still means rugging up unless you like to personally grade wind chill factors. So it's still very much Winter. I'm trying to think of more wintry things to do before Spring is upon us. Any suggestions? So far, we've made Ice rings with pine cones and winter berries. We've had early mornings walks in frosty gardens. We've cut out paper snowflakes for window decorations. The kids have helped me gather kindling and bring in firewood. I'm planning a bonfire with all the wood we've collected from pruning in the orchard but that still needs to dry out. Any other wintry ideas?

p.s. Eszter's birthday post is still postponed while I locate ye olde shoppe where they can develop photo film and put it onto ye olde CD for viewing.

Making it Wild: Bread and Terrain

Some of you may know of my early forays into baking sourdough bread back in Melbourne. The results were delicious but I gave it a rest when we started packing up the house and The Big Move was well and truly underway. Now that we're here I've started up again but with a difference - this time, I'm making the starter from scratch also. I'm following a recipe which uses grated raw potato for the culture but a friend makes hers with pineapple juice. Apparently this helps control the pH with greater stability. I'm super keen to try that too but really want to see how this one turns out first. Currently, it's resting and hopefully sucking in plenty of wild yeasts from the air which will make it come to life. Oooh, it's like discovering ancient secrets of alchemy! I do realise that my excitement is inversely proportional to the boredom of those who don't share my passion for good bread. So... moving on then.

We had snow fall on our mountain this week! Have I mentioned we live on a mountain? Well, we do. It's one thousand, one hundred and fifty something metres high. I'm not the numbers person, that's Danny. Lorenzo however was very excited to see snow so close and couldn't stop talking about climbing up to play with it. I lost count of explaining to him that it's a long climb up. I'm beginning to think that 3 year olds have less short term memory than goldfish. I also told him how Andras, Dan and I walked the track once in summer a few years ago. I'm pretty sure it took us 2 hours to get to the top. At some points we were scaling boulders and solidly rock climbing so it's a fair hike but still worth it. You can even see the ocean which is 50 km away from up there. How incredible is that?

I don't have snow pictures though. We really didn't get close enough. When it's not snow-cold it's incessantly raining ergo a picture of the kids in their wet weather gear.

p.s. Eszter's birthday post will be next week when photos get developed.

Settling in

It's now been 2 months since the big move to Tasmania. We're in dairy country here, most of our neighbours have a herd of cows happily grazing in the fields. Sometimes we go for a walk down the big hill, which we don't always do because we then have to walk up the big hill, but it's amusing to see the cows watching us intently as we pass by. The kids love to count all the horses and ponies too. Maybe one day they can go on a ride!

The first month we were house sitting for friends on the other side of the Tamar River but now we're settling in at my parents' house. As we're still finishing the extension, Dan, the kids and I stay in the loft room up in the garage. Each afternoon we make a fire downstairs which warms up the central heating unit in the loft. So far, it's been toasty warm but this week there's been snow over half of Tassie. We're hoping there'll be some here too but so far only hard frost. It was beautiful to see everything covered in ice and I took Lorenzo out early- before breakfast even! - bundled up warm for his first outing in the 'snow'. Of course, he wanted to eat some so we found some icy ferns to taste. The verdict? Watery!